college education?

Question

so i got a class schedule for our local community college yesterday and as i do every time we get one i started thumbing through it, i like to see whats offered and hope something will spark my interest. well this time and for the first time there is actually rei courses, 3 two day, two hour courses more like workshops for 30$ ea. and 5 online classes, 12 two hour online courses.

my question is has anyone ever done a course like this at a community college? i mean are they worth while? i dont mind putting time and money into something like this if it's worth while but if its just a review of sorts of things i already know then i would not be interested as much.

has anyone had this experience? or maybe list the best time and money spent during your learning process, books, guru, REIA, etc.

Mark N.A · Answer

Succesfully investing in real estate is simple.  Not easy, but simple.  You don't need a community college to teach you the basics.

However...  a community college CAN teach you four trades you will find INVALUABLE as a landlord:  HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and carpentry.

Doing your own repairs/maintenance/installation early in your career will save you big bucks, and knowing that stuff later on will keep you from getting ripped off.

Mike C · Answer

Jamie,
            
            I have not gone to a community college class but would expect them to be pretty basic. You can probably learn more here with some reading time. Having said that, though for 30.00, it certainly may not hurt depending on your current knowledge base. But the best benefit you might find is possibly finding a mentor or at least a contact with a local real estate investor you could take to lunch and learn something from. They might be able to introduce you to other investors, the local real estate association or maybe you can help them find some deals while learning what areas you want to pursue. 
            
            Of course this assumes they are investors in the first place, which may not be the case unfortunately. If I attended, that would be my first question about their experience if it wasnâ€™t mentioned in the introduction or handouts. 
            
            Good luck
            
           Mike C